Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-09
STROEHLE'S SPIRIT.
1t is Said to be Haunting his Former
Abode.

The Excitement Created by an Al
legged Strange Acting Being in a
Well Known Neighborhood---W what
Meanslt.
The residents along Fourth avenue
from Fourteenth to Fifteenth streets,
are in a terrible state of excitement
over the appearance of a ghost, which.
if reliable statements are to be be-
lieved, is one which cannot be suppressed
by the interference of the police, or any
other earthly power. The phantom
spirit has been making his nightly vista
lions to the neighborhood for two weeks,
and what intensifies the excitement and
deepens the mystery, is the fact that the
spectre represents exactly in appearance
man who died in tie vicinity of bis ap
peafsnees last spring.
1t will be remembered that few
months ago. Joseph P, Stroehle died at
his home, 1923 Fourth avenue, after
lingering illness. His life hung on
thread for weeks. and though death
stared him in the face for some time be-
fore he died and he was aware that there
could he nothing done to save his life, he
fought death as long as there was breath
in his body No one could offend him
more than to say that he was gong to die.
He swore he would not die, and 1t was
evidently his hope and determination that
prolonged his life longer than it would
otherwise have done.
After Mr.. Stroehle's death and burial.
the family moved out, and since then the
house-142S Fourth avenue-has been
occupied by family by the name Of
Ames, the husband, Albert Ames, being 9
travelling man and is consequently away
from home a good deal Commencing
about two weeks ago, Mrs. Ames says
she was alarmed at times during the
night, by strange sounds in adjoining
rooms. Occasionally it would be like
some one walking on tip toe, then there
be a tremendous noise like the falling of
thousands of brick, For few nights
she consoled herself with the idea that the
noises were occasioned by the wind and
the window shutters, but on calm nights
it continued just the same.
One evening as Mrs. Ames went into
one Of the bedrooms she met a strange
| creature in the Doorway man whom
she had never seen before. She spoke to
him but be answered not. and finally dis,
appeared, though she knew not how, MOI
where. After that the noise about the
house became more frequent II WAS
heard every other night at least. There
would be sounds like the falling of brick
and she would meet this spparition in
different parts of the house-ospeoially in
one particular room.
At last she described the strange visit
or to u neighbor Mrs. Ames had moi
known MIR. S1oehle while he lived. but
the description of the mysterious object
which had more than once terrified her
and the remembrance of MIR. Stroehle':
| appearance were identical, while the
room which was most frequently visited
was the one in which he died. For /,
few nights Mrs Ames has become 81
much alarmed at the strange visitor tha
she has refused to stay in the house, snG
has telegraphed to Kansas for her hus'
band, who is expected home tonight.
DR. Burnett, the East Indian doctor
who has acquired considerable of repu
tation as fortune teller, was sent for b.
the women of the neighborhood and il
his minds eye described the ghost Just al
it had appeared. This, of course, only
tended to increase the excitement and th,
belief that the ghost was real ghost.
| Last evening some of the neighbour
were sitting with her, when she sudnenll
screamed and swooned-sbe had observed
the ghost. The spectre, it seems ha
not SO far appeared to anyone but Mrs
Ames, but others who have gon'
through the house have heard the strang,
noises. One gentleman says that afte
passing through door and closing i
after him, there would be most terrific
knocking on the opposite side. Many o
the neighbors have investigated tb
matter and firmly believe in the theory o
the ghost. They base their conviction
on Mr.. Stroehle's dread of death an
think be he has returned in spirit if no
in body.
| The phantom has created great sen
sation in the part of town described, an
the house is constantly watched. thong
the ghost is said to make his appearance
at night only. Several young men hav
determined TO sleep in the house tonigh
and attempt to interview the ghost shout
he appear TO them. One of them ba
agreed to represent the ARGUS on thi